T. Fawcett, 'Graphic versus photographic in the nineteenth-century reproduction', in Art history, 9:2 (1986), p.185-212; W.M. Freitag, 'Early uses of photography in the history of art', in Art journal (Winter 1979-80), p.117-23.
Summary Note
The 'Inhalt:' of the title-plate lists the plates as showing the following paintings: 1. Selbstbildnis; 2. Bildnis eines Alten; 3. des Schreib- und Rechenmeisters Coppenol; 4. des Dichters Jan Hermansz Krul; 5. der Saskia; 6. Selbstbildnis; 7. Bildnis eines jungen Mädchen; 8. eines Unbekannten; 9. Die heilige Familie; 10. Winterlandschaft; 11. Die grosse landschaft mit Ruinen; 12. Bildnis des Nicolaus Bruyningh; 13. eines geharnischten Mannes; 14. eines Architekten; 15. Studienkopf eines Alten; 16. Studienkopf eines älteren Mannes; 17. Jacobs Segen.
The publications of the Photographische Gesellschaft Berlin are examples of the highly sophisticated application of photography to the reproduction of works of art for which German printers were world-renowned by the close of the 19th century. Technical advances in photography would make a significant contribution to the development of art history as an academic discipline.
Provenance
Purchased for the RA Library in 1903 (see 'Librarian's Report', RA Annual Report for 1903, p. 46).
Binding Note
Publisher's portfolio, half brown morocco, cloth-covered boards, upper cover lettered '17 Photogravuren nach Gemälden von Rembrandt in der Galerie zu Cassel - Photographische Gesellschaft Berlin'.